2008 Alpha Estate Syrah-Xinomavro

Alpha is the first letter of the greek alphabet. The choice of this name came from theinitial letter of Amyndeon, the geographical location of the estate’s vineyards and additionally declares a quality term in the greek argo. Alpha Estate represents the "new beginning", the "birth" of a new era in the world of Greek wine. Makis Mavridis, the grapegrower, and Angelos Iatridis, the winemaker, planted a 33 ha vineyard in Amyndeon region in the late 1990’s.

Tasting Notes: This wine is a blend of Syrah grape and the Greco Xinomavro (Ksee no' ma vro). The syrah we have come to know from the Rhone and Australia. Surprisingly the syrah in this wine is very similar to syrah grown in Washington State with blueberry and bacon fat on the nose. The Xinomavro brings an earthy component to the wine with dried herbs and olives. The Wine Advocate writes; "the good acidity mingles nicely with the oak to create a sunny wine that has an earthy character with hints of sour blueberry and bacon fat that is attributed to the syrah component asserting itself and mingling with the acidity ." 88 points